166: Chapter 166 Foundation Establishment Clash

The area outside the Grotto-Heaven was quiet and desolate, with occasional whispers quickly drowned out by the sound of the surging waterfall.

Jiang Wuyu had a smile on his face, feeling exceptionally cheerful. He took out a flask of spiritual wine from his Storage Pouch and sat opposite Hou Zhang, chatting and drinking in a leisurely manner.

In his view, the Su Family's assets were already in the bag.

The Su Family Cultivators inside the Grotto-Heaven should be mostly dead by now, and Su Yang and the others staying behind in Qingyuan were likely already wiped out by the demonic Cultivators.

The entire Su Family now only had Song Baiqing left. The key was that this person was still in the dark; it was truly amusing to think about.

"Fellow Daoist Hou, what do you think this person will do once he learns the truth? Will he strike against us to avenge his Family, or just let it go and look for a new master?" Jiang Wuyu whispered.

Everyone present was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; as long as someone spoke, no matter how softly, everyone could actually hear them.

Clearly, he was doing it on purpose.

The corner of Hou Zhang's mouth curled up: "Revenge? Revenge my foot. As long as his brain is functional, he'll definitely be looking for a new master."

At the end of the day, Song Baiqing was just a servant; he didn't even have the Su Family Bloodline.

Now that his masters were all dead, what would he be fighting for?

It took decades of cultivation to achieve Foundation Establishment; how difficult was that? Having finally made it, why would he throw away his life for a Family he shared no blood with just to seek revenge?

Where in the world could there be a Cultivator so incredibly foolish?

Jiang Wuyu couldn't help but smile after hearing this.

Indeed, where was there any true sentiment in the cultivation world? It was all just acting and taking what one needed. When disaster struck, everyone would naturally scatter; who would risk their life for others?

The two of them chuckled and clinked their cups.

Just then, a fluctuation of spiritual power suddenly emanated from the entrance of the Grotto-Heaven, drawing the attention of the seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Cheng Lan's willow-like brows furrowed as she said in a startled tone, "The Grotto-Heaven is closing? How could the time be so short?"

In truth, she hadn't fully grasped the rules of the Grotto-Heaven either; she had only been here three or four times in total.

Years ago, the Cheng Family was able to discover this place only because the Formation maintaining the Grotto-Heaven's operation had eroded over time, revealing a slight flaw.

Qi Refining Cultivators entering the Grotto-Heaven would be ignored by the damaged internal Formation. If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator entered, it would immediately trigger the Formation, forcing the Grotto-Heaven to close and expelling the intruder.

When Cheng Lan first discovered the Grotto-Heaven, she had entered it personally, which immediately triggered the closure mechanism of the Grotto-Heaven's Formation. She was expelled directly, which was how she confirmed that the Grotto-Heaven did not allow Foundation Establishment Cultivators to enter.

While she was filled with doubt, the spiritual power fluctuations at the entrance of the Grotto-Heaven suddenly intensified. The frequency and strength of the vibrations were clearly identical to the signs of the Grotto-Heaven closing.

Immediately following that, a clear Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Pressure seeped out from within the Grotto-Heaven!

The expressions of Cheng Lan and the others all changed simultaneously.

"This is..."

"Someone has reached Foundation Establishment inside the Grotto-Heaven!"

"No wonder the Grotto-Heaven suddenly closed early... Who was it that reached Foundation Establishment in there?"

Everyone had different thoughts, feeling both anxious and wary.

After all, every faction had sent Cultivators at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining and Qi Refining Perfection into the Grotto-Heaven; any side could have someone reach Foundation Establishment.

At that moment, the light at the entrance suddenly trembled violently, bursting with a dazzling glare. Numerous figures were forcibly expelled by the power of the Grotto-Heaven, cast out like a receding tide.

As soon as that Foundation Establishment spiritual power rushed out of the Grotto-Heaven, it was accompanied by an incomparably sharp Sword Qi, which instantly locked onto Jiang Wuyu and slashed down!

Jiang Wuyu's gaze sharpened, and he reacted quickly.

He raised his hand and drew the longsword at his waist. A jet-black Sword Qi surged against the wind, colliding violently with the incoming sharp Sword Qi.

Almost at the same time, Song Baiqing, who had been standing quietly to the side, also moved.

A frigid sword momentum suddenly erupted, heading straight for Hou Zhang!

The Sword Qi pierced through the air, so fast that only a faint trail remained. Carrying bone-chilling killing intent, it swept out, cutting off all of Hou Zhang's retreats.

The sudden turn of events shocked the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators present. They instinctively retreated to put some distance between them.

Only then did everyone see the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had rushed out of the Grotto-Heaven—it was actually the Su Family's Wei Yan!

She was surrounded by a Foundation Establishment Stage pressure that she hadn't yet restrained, and her awe-inspiring Sword Intent soared straight into the sky.

"What is the meaning of this, Su Family?" Jiang Wuyu asked with a dark expression.

"The Jiang Family and the Golden Feather Gang besieged the Su Family inside the Grotto-Heaven, and you still have the face to question me?"

Wei Yan's voice was cold as a ribbon of sword light tore through the clouds. Her figure was like a bolt of lightning as she rushed out, her plain white sleeves fluttering loudly in the fierce wind.

As the sword edge vibrated, the sword shadows multiplied from one to two, then two to four. In an instant, they condensed into a sky full of sword shadows hanging behind her, arranged in a Formation with their tips pointed directly at Jiang Wuyu!

"Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin?! You are a Wan Jian Sect Cultivator!"

Jiang Wuyu's pupils constricted as he cried out in horror.

These words rang out like a clap of thunder, and every Cultivator present turned pale.

The Su Family's daughter-in-law was actually a Wan Jian Sect Disciple? Such a secret was truly shocking!

Wei Yan's lips were pressed thin, and she didn't say a word.

She pressed her sword fingers down in mid-air, and the thousands of sword shadows behind her poured down like a heavenly river, sweeping down with a sharp whistle!

Jiang Wuyu hastily performed a hand seal, his protective spiritual light surging as his Sword Qi transformed into a jet-black ribbon to meet the attack head-on.

As the two forces collided, several rocky peaks within Wangchuan Valley exploded!

Debris splashed like a rainstorm, and dust soared into the sky.

Sword Qi and Daoist arts roared continuously; wherever they passed, mountain rocks crumbled and the ground cracked like ravines.

Two figures flickered and crossed through the dust storm. Their blades clashed, sending out dazzling sparks. Every collision sent out visible spiritual power turbulence, carving gashes several yards deep into the surrounding rock walls!

The fierce confrontation between the two was evenly matched.

Jiang Wuyu's Divine Sense swept across the field, only to discover to his shock that among the Cultivators who had come out of the Grotto-Heaven, there wasn't a single member of the Jiang Family or the Golden Feather Gang.

"Where have my Jiang Family people gone?"

Jiang Wuyu was furious and shouted sternly, "It was your Su Family that slaughtered my clan's Cultivators!"

He then turned to Cheng Lan and shouted urgently, "Clan Leader Cheng! All parties agreed to help each other inside the Grotto-Heaven. The Su Family has now openly violated the rules. Why haven't you struck yet to help us suppress the Su Family!"

Hearing this, Cheng Lan's expression shifted uncertainly as her gaze slowly moved toward the Su Family members.

She saw Su Xuanxiao take a step forward, shielding his clansmen behind him, and say in a deep voice, "Clan Leader Cheng, I advise you not to meddle in others' business."

Su Xuanling's fingertips lightly brushed the zither strings. A clear and melodious tune rippled out, instantly forming a Formation that enveloped her clansmen.

Cheng Lan's gaze swept over the scene as she remained silent and contemplative.

In the other part of the battlefield, Hou Zhang was being forced back repeatedly by Song Baiqing's Qingyuan Sword Momentum. Several bloody gashes had already appeared on his body, and he was gradually falling into a disadvantage.

Seeing Cheng Lan remain silent, Hou Zhang hurriedly shouted:

"Clan Leader Cheng, help us quickly! The Su Family has two Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators. If they are allowed to return, they will surely become the overlords of Qingyuan. When that time comes, your Cheng Family won't have it easy either!"

The combat power of Sword Cultivators in the same realm was particularly fierce.

Wei Yan was also a Sword Cultivator, but the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present could all see that she had just reached Foundation Establishment and hadn't had time to construct her dao foundation yet; she was still using an attribute-less dao foundation.

Even so, she was still able to fight on equal terms with Jiang Wuyu, who had been immersed in the Foundation Establishment Stage for many years, without being at a disadvantage at all.

On the other side, facing Song Baiqing's sharp offensive, Hou Zhang was gradually showing signs of fatigue. If Cheng Lan didn't take action, he would surely lose.

But as long as Cheng Lan lent her aid, she could turn the tide, and there was a great hope of completely slaying these two Su Family Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators right here.